St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day

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St. Patrick's Day is with us,
The day when all that's seen
To right and left and everywhere
Is green, green, green!
And Irish tunes they whistle
And Irish songs they sing,
To-day each Irish lad walks out
As proud as any king.
I'll wear a four-leaf shamrock
In my coat, the glad day through,
For my father and mother are Irish
And I am Irish too!

1. Read and translate the text.

St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated by the Irish and Irish at Heart in big cities and small towns alike with parades, "wearing of the green," music and songs, Irish food and drink, and activities for kids such as crafts, coloring and games on the 17-th оf March. It’s a time for fun. Some communities even go so far as to dye rivers or streams green!

The day is generally characterized by the attendance of church services, wearing of green attire (especially shamrocks), and the lifting of Lenten restrictions on eating and drinking alcohol, which is often proscribed during the rest of the season.

Saint Patrick was the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland who is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. Saint Patrick is most known for driving the snakes from Ireland. It is true there are no snakes in Ireland, but there probably never have been - the island was separated from the rest of the continent at the end of the Ice Age. Driving the snakes from Ireland was probably symbolic of putting an end to that pagan practice. While not the first to bring Christianity to Ireland, it is Patrick who is said to have encountered the Druids at Tara and abolished their pagan rites. The story holds that he converted the warrior chiefs and princes, baptizing them and thousands of their subjects in the "Holy Wells" that still bear this name.

So, why is it celebrated on March 17th? One theory is that that is the day that St. Patrick died. Since the holiday began in Ireland, it is believed that as the Irish spread out around the world, they took with them their history and celebrations. The biggest observance of all is, of course, in Ireland. With the exception of restaurants and pubs, almost all businesses close on March 17th. Being a religious holiday as well, many Irish attend mass, where March 17th is the traditional day for offering prayers for missionaries worldwide before the serious celebrating begins.

Vocabulary

St. Patrick’s Day – День Святого Патрика

attire – наряд, облачение

shamrock – трилистник (цветок клевера)

the patron – покровитель, заступник

apostle – апостол, поборник, приверженец

the Ice Age – Ледниковый период

the Druids – Друиды

1. Read some information about the patron saint of Ireland - St. Patrick and do a word search.

1. Read and translate the text.

Celebration of St. Patrick's Day

In Ireland St. Patrick's Day is more of a religious holiday similar to Christmas and Easter. With grand parades, community feasts, charity show, the mass, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated in Ireland. The parades, shamrocks and green beer are primarily for tourists. In fact, it has turned out to be one of the most celebrated events in Ireland and major tourist attraction.

The early Irish immigrants like the English, Dutch, German and French brought their traditions to the United States. In 1737 the immigrants really began to celebrate the Day. And it was in Boston where the Day was first celebrated in a public way. Gradually other states took it up. And it was New York that took out the largest ever St. Patrick's Day parade.

Meanwhile the city of Chicago has developed a unique tradition of coloring the river water green. It started in 1962 when 100 pounds of green vegetable dye were added to its river, enough to keep it green for a week. The tradition has continued till date. Now, 40 pounds of a green food coloring keep the river green for only a few hours.

These apart Irish community in various cities celebrate the Day with social and community works, making charities, attending mass, promoting their own culture and feasting their foods.

Despite all these varieties, all are driven by a unique theme: be an Irish day. It's a celebration for being Irish and enjoying things Irish. While it reminds us about St. Patrick, it also tells us to be Irish, with shamrocks and leprechauns. As it tells us to cook and feast the Irish way, to laugh away worries with Irish jokes, dance to the tunes of the Irish bands, try out the Irish words. And all these the Day lets us know the real fun of being Irish!

1. Finish the sentences:

• St. Patrick's Day is celebrated in…

• The early Irish immigrants brought their traditions to…

• The largest St. Patrick's Day parade took place in…

5. Find out: TRUE or FALSE? Give the right answer.

1. St. Patrick's Day is more of a religious holiday similar to Christmas and Easter in the USA.

2. And it was in Boston where the Day was first celebrated in a public way.

3. In the city of Chicago the river water is green on St. Patrick's Day.

4. St. Patrick's Day is a celebration for being Irish and enjoying things Irish.

5. Tourists cannot take part in parades and wear shamrocks.

Let’s Have Fun

1. Translate these sentences into English

1. Некоторые сообщества заходят так далеко, что красят реки или потоки зеленым!

2. Святой Патрик был святым заступником и национальным апостолом Ирландии.

3. Святой Патрик больше всего известен тем, что он изгнал змей из Ирландии.

4. Изгнание змей из Ирландии было символическим.

5. Самое большое празднование проходит в Ирландии.

6. Будучи также религиозным праздником, многие ирландцы ходят на мессу.

1. Answer the questions

• What do you know about Ireland?

• What is the capital of Northern Ireland?

• What is a symbol of Northern Ireland?

• What language do Irish people speak?